Regional newspapers have been challenged for more than a decade by loss of revenue, loss of talent and rising costs that have forced many to permanently close their doors. The recommendations made in this report are an important starting point to address the ongoing viability of regional newspapers.

This report summarises the results from a computer-assisted investigation of how the Australian news media write about diabetes. The research focussed on reporting in 12 national and metropolitan Australian newspapers over five years (2013-2017).

The data examined in this research suggest that news and journalism-related companies may be losing ground to growing sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and fintech. Relative to a set of comparator countries, the UK appears to have lower investment in news and journalism startups.

Much like the situation in Australia, the economic challenges confronting local newspapers—which are uniquely positioned to devote the time and resources needed to undertake in-depth, investigative, and public interest journalism—has contributed to significant coverage gaps in local news markets in the United States.

This study aims to analyse the use of ‘nanny state’ frames in Australian news media coverage; identify the stakeholders invoking this frame; determine which public health–related policies attract such framing; and investigate whether ‘nanny state’ framing is directly challenged in news coverage.